Though mint state 1715 Mexico eight and two escudos had been
recovered from 1715 Fleet sites in some numbers in the 1960's and
1970's, no 1715 four escudos had surfaced from any Fleet site prior
to the 1986 Season. Indeed, no 1715 four escudos were known to exist
from any source. Some scholars believed that the Mexico mint
had not bothered to strike any of the rare four escudos
denomination. The debate was settled on a balmy late June 1986 day when a
Fisher contractor--Capt Brandon sailing the Endeavor--was working the Corrigan's site.
Capt Brandon
found not one, but four, Mexico 4 escudos that showed a 1715 date
(plus a lone 1715 two escudos).
In the annual Division with the State of Florida, the State took two
of these 1715 for the Florida Collection (one is photographed on Plate 12 of Craig's SCGC).
Two remained in the hand of Mel and his contractor. Mel offered one of
these 1715 four escudos as lot 181 in the June 1988 Christie's of
Atocha rarities. The second 1715, the present coin, Mel placed with
one of his investors, where it remained for 30 years.

This
1715 four escudos is sharply struck and has an exceptional mint
state luster. It looks like it did 295 years ago when it left the
Mexico City mint. The centering on this 1715 is far better than on
the Christie's and Florida Collection pieces. Those 4 escudos are
struck badly off-center, to the point that only one or part of two
digits of the date remain on the planchets. Badly off-center Mexican
escudos are not attractive coins. On this four escudos, some of the
four digits are not fully struck up. The second 1, which sits in a
high position relative to the rest of the day, is complete, though a
piece of coral covers the top part. The distinctive Spanish 5 is
quite clear. The mint mark and assayer (J) mark are bold, the shield
is in high relief.

Mexican four escudos are
one of the rarest series of Fleet coins. With the exception of the
1711-14 issues, many are known in only one or two specimens. A
unique 1707 four escudos recently brought $23,000 at auction, a
choice (though not rare) 1713 four brought $12,000. 1715 is arguably the most
important Fleet date. No Lima or Bogota 1715's have been found. This
1715 Mexican four escudos is therefore the only way to own a 1715
dated Fleet four escudos. To my knowledge no one has yet completed a
dated 1715 gold set. There are choices with respect to the 1, 2 and
8 escudos, but there are ONLY TWO 1715 four escudos, and this is by
far the best.